Phillips is Smith’s second high-profile get of the JUCO recruiting season, joining fellow JUCO transfer Dwayne Lawson, a quarterback who actually was Phillips’ teammate at Garden City (Kan.) Community College.

While Lawson once played at Virginia Tech, Phillips was originally a Western Michigan commit straight out of Detroit’s famed football factory Cass Tech.

Phillips will be replacing Hardy Nickerson, who was a graduate transfer from California and filled the gaps for one season for Smith and his father of the same name, the Illini defensive coordinator.

According to Jeremy Werner’s story for Scout.com, Phillips put up some big numbers in Nowheresville, Kan.

Last season, he led Garden City with 95 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Phillips … also had four pass break ups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Phillips was highly ranked after the big season, as the No. 15 JUCO prospect, according to Scout.com.